PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his State of the Nation Address (Sona) this year either at Congress, with only a few lawmakers present physically, or via online from Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang.
Those are the two options that are being considered, according to Roque.
Asked whether the Palace is leaning more towards an online Sona, Roque said, “Well, I would say that’s a safe fallback position.”
Roque noted that even the Asean summit and the presentation of credentials of diplomats are done online because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
“Either way, it does not matter. Ang importante lang naman, mag-ulat sa Kongreso and the Constitution does not require from where he will make that report,” he added.
The President is constitutionally required to deliver his Sona yearly to report on the country’s situation and agenda for the year ahead as well as propose legislative measures.
This year, the Sona is scheduled for July 27.
The Sona is traditionally delivered before a joint session of Congress at the House of Representatives in the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City although there were other venues in the past.
Among the other previous venues were Kalayaan Hall in the Malacañan Palace, Quirino Grandstand and Philippine International Convention Center.
Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution requires the President to address the Congress at the opening of its regular session.
Article VI, Section 15 also prescribes that the Congress “shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its regular session.” (Marites Villamor-Ilano/SunStar Philippines)